Get up to speed with employment law changes
accelerateonline • March 8, 2022

- From 1 April, the minimum wage rate increases from $20 per hour to $21.20. Communicate the change with your employees in writing and if you have staff on salary, make sure their total remuneration meets the requirements.
- The Holidays Act is getting revamped bringing new ways of calculating holiday pay and other leave entitlements and the ability for employees to take annual holidays in advance. Jump on MBIE’s website for more information.
- This year sees the addition of a new public holiday, Matariki , to be marked on Friday 24 June.
- We expected to see a fair pay agreements Bill introduced this year and the Government intro duced it into Parliament on 29 March. People will have an opportunity to comment on the Bill during the Select Committee process.
- Dependent contractor protections are under review by MBIE with measures expected to include extending statutory minimum entitlements for leave and ensuring dependent contractors have the right to bargain collectively. Watch this space!
We’ll keep you up to date as further developments are announced.
Inland Revenue have recently announced this year’s livestock Herd Scheme Values and we think this is a great opportunity to update you on the latest movements. The Herd Scheme Values are the National Average Market Values, determined by a process involving a review of the livestock market as at 30 April.
The values for Dairy this year have seen a fall in values across all female classes, but increases across all male classes. The fall in R1 heifer values can be attributed to the prohibition of live export by sea commencing from 30 April 2023. For the first time the National Average Market Value for R1 Heifers is less than the National Standard Cost of breeding and rearing an R1 Heifer.
Budget 2023 builds on the $889m already provided in response to this year’s storms. A further $6b is allocated for a National Resilience Plan , for rebuilding after weather events. $71b is committed to new and existing infrastructure projects: not only storm damaged communications, power and roading, but schools, hospitals, public housing, rail and road.